Head Nurse salary?

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:37:13 GMT

I'm Head Nurse in a branch surgery, I work 40 hours a week and I am on £21,000 a year. I'm in West Herts. I work 5 days, 1 in 4 weekends but I get time in lieu the following week so it's pretty good for what I do and my hours. And it seems above average for RVN's but it depends on the location as well as I'm closer to London.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Ben Gardner RVN — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:40:52 GMT

No, its first opinion. Its a relatively new practice and in all fairness I am quite busy there, not so much with clients but starting nurse clinics, puppy pre school and I do alot of reception work. i do about 40 hours a week over 4 days and every other saturday morning but no OOHs

Ben

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Tracy Windler RVN — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:21:38 GMT

Do you work in referral or in London, Benjamin? Thats a fantastic salary for a VN. My practice simply couldn't afford it. I'm on about £17k for 30-35 hour week, with 1 in 4 on call and weekends. I think I'm pretty lucky to get that.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Ben Gardner RVN — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:11:19 GMT

I started is auxilary 5 years ago, qualified 12 months ago and now im on £23,00, Some of these wages are poor guys. Something needs to be done.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Amie-Leigh — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:11:08 GMT

Hello!

According to the most recent RCVS survey of the profession, the average salary for a VN is £16, 379...compare it to a human nurse who earns £21,176.

I guess if you're aware of this through training and love your job, it's not that big a deal. I think it's pretty poor though!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Sal the 1st — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:43:14 GMT

This is where I feel the wage surveys can be as much a hindrance as they are a help. They help in that they give you an idea of what to expect in a given area - and dont forget it is just an indication,but at the same time they also give some employers a pretty good idea as to how little they can get away with in a given area. I think these surveys can cause a lot of bad feeling when people find out that others are getting paid more than them or to employers when they find out they are paying over the odds. Lets face it whatever your job you are only worth as much as somebody wants to pay.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:15:06 GMT

i agree with you completly. i think all vns should take a stand and refuse to work for peanuts! if no body was willing to work for a low amount then practices would have no choice but to pay decently. we are afterall fully trained professionals

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Kerry Spain — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:12:24 GMT

Thanks Angiy, bit too far for me to travel tho' but thanks anyway

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Angiy Michael — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:17:01 GMT

My job may be up for grabs soon Hoping to go part-time . Know its not really what you are looking for but if you want any info let me know X

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Kerry Spain — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:28:28 GMT

[quote user="sal the 1st"]

I know some people will prob hate me for saying it - but I'm going to say it anyway. If you are working for peanuts whose fault is it really? is it the boss for paying you peanuts or you for accepting it. I know training places are scarce and bosses are mostly (not all) tight but if people are going to continue to accept bad conditions and bad pay then practices will carry on paying the minimum they can get away with (or less in some cases) and treating staff like dirt. - I used to be like this, took me a long time to realise - please dont be as daft as I was

[/quote]

Exaclty which is why I'm looking for another job as I don't like having the pee taken out of me BUT there are no jobs in my neck of the woods at the moment (especially willing to pay me what I'm asking for) SO I'm going to have to make a decision this year as to wether or not I stay in nursing. Lets face it there will be a naive little school leaver waiting to take my place.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Angiy Michael — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:58:05 GMT

It does vary hugely from area to area and practice to practice. I have to say I wouldn't take a VN job for less than 18k ..a HVN job I would expect a bit more..that aid I haven't worked in a practice that expects me to do non nursing duties for years so if you were somewhere smaller or somewhere that was a less hand on role then it would likely be less..I can't afford less than 18k . I have 12 years experience and have been qualified for 7 years. When I last worked for PDSa about 2 year ago I was 19k as a norml RVN. Hope this helps

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:02:18 GMT

we had the best cared for inpatients in town of an evening - the inmates (trainee nurses - and yes that is really what we were known as!) used to go downstairs in the kennel room and play cards because it was heated and the flat was freezing. (Those little coloured caps off the vaccine bottles and drug bottles make good gaming chips )We were even given the special treat of answering the phones at night too if we were really good

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Mac Feather — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:54:05 GMT

[quote user="sal the 1st"]I was usually left with between £5 and £6.50 a week to live on. [/quote]

And no doubt you were expected to be greatful young lady!

I used to be asked to do reception in the evenings at short notice and like a div I would do it. Quite funny as boss would give me a fiver days/weeks after Id done a nights reception (Id never dare ask for extra cash) and you just knew that meant another night of reception for me coming up!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:46:08 GMT

[quote user="mrs mac"]

Well that was back when I was 16 and I was full of enthusiasm and I I truely was a Young Tory Slave- but you do wise up, I did........eventually.

[/quote]

been there done that myself - first practice was compulsory live in. By the time I had given my boss half my wages back for rent, fed the meters for gas and electric, paid a weekly amount towards a tv license and a bit more towards the phone bill every week I was usually left with between £5 and £6.50 a week to live on. And there were 4 of us sharing the flat!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Mac Feather — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:35:35 GMT

Well that was back when I was 16 and I was full of enthusiasm and I I truely was a Young Tory Slave- but you do wise up, I did........eventually.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Mac Feather — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:32:54 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

Mrs Mac you must be sooooooo muchn older than me cos I got £35!!!!

[/quote]

Cheeky!!!!!!!! It is true I am a dinosaur!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

chris beasley — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:59:42 GMT

I totally agree with you sal - BUT, as you can see from all the requests on this site, there are so many people out there willing to work with animals.

Weither it be veterinary nursing or reception/kennel staff, they what a job with animals and as I did when I first left school. Back then I relied on my parents and when I got married also on my husband. It is only now 25yrs later I am earing a fairly decent wage.

Somehow BVNA and the RCVS need to get behind us for a set wage scale which is binding by law!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:33:39 GMT

Re: Head Nurse salary?

chris beasley — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:12:24 GMT

I started on £13 a week as a trainee!!!!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Gemma Preston — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:51:11 GMT

This all varies from practice to practice. I was a HVN and I was on bout 16500 changed jobs to a lesser position with another practice now on 17500 but I have 10yrs+ experience. I would ask for 16500 and see what happens, they can always say no!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

paula morgan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:38:48 GMT

I guess i wouldnt mind gettin £20 a week if I was 16, am 45!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Louise B — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:43:08 GMT

It was £20/week when I left school so reckon Mrs Mac and I must be the same age-ish.

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Sarah Cahill — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:41:24 GMT

When I started out doing my Level 2 I also didn't get paid! just got my travelling expenses to college paid for which was block release so 4 trips a year!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Fiona Leathers — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:29:48 GMT

Mrs Mac you must be sooooooo muchn older than me cos I got £35!!!!

Re: Head Nurse salary?

Mac Feather — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:39:54 GMT

I remember being on the y.t.s and doing my training- £20 a week- oh them were the days.........must have been off my trolley.